Beijing Capital Airport

Continent: Asia

Country: China

Beijing Capital Airport
Location	Beijing, China
IATA code	PEK
ICAO code	ZBAA
Airport type	Commercial
Website	[ ]
Overview map	[ ]
Communications
Tower
Ground
Clearance
Approach
ATIS
Plane Spotting Hotels guide

Official Spotting Locations

There is a park called West Lake Park (西湖园) on the west side of T3. The landing lights of runway 36R extend into the park. At the far side of the park, there is a little hill with a large zodiac sign on the ground overlooking the runway. You can photograph planes lining up for take off from 36R as well as planes on final approach to 36R..

To go there, exit from the west (left) most exit of T3 and walk past a few buildings on your right. You will see a large covered parking area for the bicycles and motorcycles for the airport employees. Pass the parking area you will see the park. Enter the park and follow the lake shore and path to the hill with zodiac sign in the middle of the park.

Other Spotting Locations

There is a long walkway connecting T1 and T2. It overlooks the domestic ramp for MU, HU and CZ. There might be some reflection to watch out.

To go there, simply reach T2 and follow the sign to the walkway to T1.

Locations to Avoid

Regular Traffic

Air China (CA): A-319/320/321, A-330-200/300, B-737-700/800, B-777-200/300ER/F. It's common to find CA airplanes in speical liveries at PEK.

China Eastern (MU): A-319/320/321, A-330-200/300, B-737-700/800, B-777-300ER.

China Southern (CZ): A-319/320/321, A-330-200/300, A-380, B-737-700/800, B-747-8, B-777-300ER, B-787-8.

Both MU and CZ regularly send their special livery planes to PEK.

China Hainan (HU): A-330-300, A-340-600, B-737-700/800, B-767-300, B-787-8. There are many Airbus and Boeing narrow bodies belong to subsidiaries of HU -- Capital Airlines, China Xinhua Airlines, Grand China Airlines, etc.

Aeroflot (SU): A-330-300, B-777-300ER

Air Algerie (AH): A-330-200

Air Astana (KC): A-320

Air Canada (AC): B-777-200/300ER, B-787-8

Air France (AF): A-380, B-777-300ER

Air Koryo (JS): TU-204; depending on traffic demand, JS might also send An-148 or IL-62.

Air Macau (NX): A-321

Air Mauritius (MK): A-340-300

All Nippon Airlines (NH): B-767-300, B-787-8

American (AA): B-777-200ER

Asiana Airlines (OZ): B-747-400, B-777-200

British Airways (BA): B-777-300ER

Cathay Pacific (CX): A-330/340, B-777-300/ER

Cebu Pacific (5J): A-320

China Airlines (CI): A-330-300, B-747-400

Delta (DL): A-330-300, B-767-300, B-777-200/LR

Dragon Air (KA): A-320, A-330-300

Egypt Air (MS): B-777-300ER

El Al (LY): B-767-300

Emirates (EK): A-380, B-777-300ER

Ethiopian Airlines (ET): B-777-200LR

Etihad (EY): A-330-200

EVA Airlines (BR): B-747-400, B-777-300ER

Finnair (AY): A-330-300

Garuda Indonesian Airlines (GA): A-330-200

Hongkong Airlines (HX): A-330-200, A-320

Iran Air (IR): B-747-200/SP

Japan Airlines (JL): B-737-800, B-767-300, B-787-8

Juneyao Airlines (HO): A-320

Korean Airlines (KE): A-330-300, B-747-400, B-777-200/300

KLM (KL): B-747-400

LOT Polish Airlines (LO): B-787-8

Lucky Air (8L): B-737, A-320

Lufthansa (LH): A-340-600, B-747-400/8

Malasyian Airlines (MH): A-330-300

Miat Mongolian Airlines (OM): B-737-800

Pakistan International Airlines (PK): A-310

Philippine Airlines (PR): A-320

Qatar Airways (QR): B-777-300ER

S7 Airlines (S7): A-320

SAS (SK): A-340-300

Shangdong Airlines (SC): B-737-700/800

Shengzhen Airlines (ZH): A-320, B-737-700/800

Sichuan Airlines (4U): A-320/321, A-330-300

Singapore Airlines (SG): A-380, B-777-300ER

Spring Airlines (9C): A-320

Swiss (LX): A-330-300

TAAG (DT): B-777-300ER

Thai (TG): B-777-200

Transaero (UN): B-767-300

Turkish Airlines (TK): B-777-300ER

United (UA): B-747-400, B-777-200ER

Ural (U6): A-320

Vietnam Airlines (VN): A-321

Xiamen Airlines (MF): B-737-800, B-757-200, B-787-8

Facilities and Transportation

Beijing Capital International Airport is served by the Airport Express Line of the Beijing Subway. There are stations at T2 and T3. The Express train runs on frequent schedules throghout the day.